Flight, December 1930

The PARIS AERO SHOW

COUZINET

   Regarded by many visitors to the Paris Aero Show as a "freak," but at least showing some originality of thought and a determination to attempt to improve aerodynamic efficiency, the Couzinet type 20 is a little three-engined light monoplane with 40 h.p. Salmson engines. The undercarriage is so designed that the wheels can be raised into the outboard engine housings and partly buried there. To us it appears doubtful whether the projecting half of the wheels, plus the fact that the axles, radius rods, and telescopic legs lie some 2 in. away from the lower surface of the wing, will not give as much drag as if the undercarriage had been left hanging down. But it should be possible to design undercarriages of a different type, in which all, or practically all, could be entirely buried, and in that case the machine should have a very high maximum L/D.
   The three Salmson engines are mounted in very pointed housings which are continued past the propellers in the form of spinners. The machine is a low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction, and is designed to carry pilot and four passengers at a cruising speed of 150 km./h. (93 m.p.h.). In view of the fact that five persons are carried for a power expenditure of 120 h.p., or 24 h.p. per occupant, this seems to be extremely good. The cruising range is stated to be six hours, or 900 km. (560 miles).